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There are several other place-names with Muiceanach (pig-like) in Connemara (Muiceanach Choille and Muiceanach Idir Dhá Sháile). This element is found mainly in Connacht and refers to a hill or ridge shaped like a pig's back. Previously Meachanach in MV.
Muckanaght is the 188th highest place in Ireland.Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/182/?PHPSESSID=c8ls05kcg3f7vq2kn064kuc2q2

Meacanach is usually tackled as part of a circuit either the Glencorbet or Owenglin valleys, but is well worth a climb in its own right. Start in Glencorbet, just after the bridge at L799 574A and walk up the road until a track heads off to the left. Follow this track into the glen and across the Kylemore River, turning right along the banks of the river, to avoid having to pass through fields or cross too many fences. Head west along the base of a spur of Ben Fraoigh, to avoid the worst of the bog. Once around this spur, head up to the left to the col between Ben Fraoigh and Meacanach. From here its a case of climbing very steeply to the west over grass, until the small summit ridge is reached. Although it is possible to descend north from the summit towards Benbrack, great care is needed to negotiate the steep craggy slope. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/182/comment/4942/

Picture from simon3

simon3 on Muckanaght, 2003

by simon3 9 Oct 2003

This impressive mountain, also known as Muckanaght, would be passed in a number of circuits such as the horseshoe walks around the Owenglin or Polladirk Rivers.
As you can see in the picture there is an extensive view of coastline near Letterfrack. On the coastline, just right of centre, is Tully Mountain (356m). Below and to its right in shadow is Diamond Hill.

The summit of this mountain, and the area immediately around it, is composed of schist rather than the quartzite that so much of the rest of the 12 Bens are made of. You can see a single piece of white quartzite on top of the cairn which is otherwise the darker shist. The inset shows one of the pieces of schist in more detail.

This summit attracted the attention of Robert Lloyd Praeger. "The schists ... as on the summit of Muckanaght (2153 feet), and forming as they do a much more hospitable habitat for plant than the barren quartzite, they attract the comparitively few alpine plants of the range - Mountain Meadow-rue, Purple Saxifrage, Mountain Sorrel, Mountain Sawwort, Dwarf Mountain Willow, Holly Fern, and others." Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/182/comment/700/

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Picture from simon3

simon3 on Muckanaght, 2003

by simon3 9 Oct 2003

This picture shows Muckanaght from the west. The left of the mountain is its northern slope which becomes very steep in parts, particularly to the east. HC Hart [Climbing in the British Isles: Ireland 1895] wrote "The most interesting climb is upon the north of Muckanaght (2,150ft.), which is connected to Benfree by a ridge at about 1,000ft. The cliffs lie about 1,300 to 1,800 ft., and from near their upper edge to the summit (2,150ft.) is a steep and perilous grassy slope." While perfectly possible (at least in daylight), it’s hard to ascend Muckanaght from that side. For a party not comfortable with steep grassy slopes there’s an alternative: go to the col between Muckanaght and Ben Fhraoigh (Benfree, behind the summit in this picture) and climb the slightly less steep ridge to the summit. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/182/comment/701/

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Picture from csd

csd on Muckanaght, 2003

by csd 29 Dec 2003

The summit cairn on Meacanach and the view to the west on a snowy December 28th, 2003. We gained the summit of Meacanach from the Kylemore River in Glencorbet via the col just south of Maumnascalpa (marked on the Harvey map). The summit is a fairly steep slog up from the valley, and care should be taken when the ground is slippy underfoot. Once at Meacanach, Bin Fraoigh and Binn Bhan are easily accomplished. Full-size versions of this and other pics will be uploaded as usual to http://www.202degrees.com/mountains. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/182/comment/780/

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Picture from wicklore : Rugged, steep, grassy slopes

Picture: Rugged, steep, grassy slopes

Easy is a subjective word!

by wicklore 8 Jun 2010

Plenty of contributors refer to the 'easy' approach to Muckanaght being to head up from the col between Muckanaght and Benfree. This is certainly easier than the steep northern slopes but would still require concentration as the grassy slopes here are also quite steep in places. Wet weather would render this approach needing care. About 150 metres up from the col a rocky outcrop is easily skirted to the left. Shortly after this the slope eases off to the extent that you can once again stand level when resting!

My photo, taken from Benfree, shows the route up to the left of the difficult northern face of Muckanaght Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/182/comment/5860/

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Picture from bryanmccabe

bryanmccabe on Muckanaght, 2009

by bryanmccabe 16 Dec 2009

Muckanaght is one those mountains I wanted to climb just based on its name alone, and it didn't disappoint! About 2.5km on the Clifden side of Ben Lettery youth hostel, there's a road heading north towards the Owenglin River. Immediately after crossing the river on a narrow bridge, there's a parking area at the entrance to a forest. We walked through the forest to the end, out into the open valley before climbing to the saddle between Muckanaght and Benfree. A left turn leads to the summit of Muckanaght over a few steep grassy sections. Views from the top are spectacular. Continued on over Bencullagh to Maumonght and down to the road again via Maumonght SW top. Muckanaght is a very prominent mountain, and is arguably at its most impressive when viewed from the valley of the Kylemore River looking west. Trackback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/182/comment/4254/